Saints 34 Gateshead Thunder 22 SAINTS' performance in this first clash with the North Easterners was like the curate's egg - only good in parts!

And it could be argued that it was mainly through the brilliance of Saints' centres Kevin Iro and Paul Newlove, who accounted for three of their six tries, that Gateshead coach Shaun McRae's dream of a victorious return to Knowsley Road was thwarted.

Comprised entirely of Australians, Thunder threatened to explode by the interval when they led 14-10 against a Saints' squad who were booed off after starting brightly and then faded, principally due to failure to maintain intensity and concentration.

However, spurred by Ellery Hanley's chidings, Saints' regained the initiative on the restart and, in punishing mistakes, kept their noses in front. Saints held most of the opening aces and only a despairing Ian Herron tackle prevented Long from touching down as early as the fifth minute, but there was no stopping the homesters when Sculthorpe broke through over 30 yards to turn the ball inside for Iro to score his first try in a Knowsley Road shirt.

Long converted but Saints' joy was shortlived when Gateshead's Willie Peters shot between Davidson and Nickle to send Will Robinson behind the posts for Herron to tack on the goal.

However, Saints did get their act together again in the 22nd minute, when Long, Martyn and Newlove moved play to the right to put Iro in for his second, but the Thunder response was almost immediate as ex-Paris star Deon Bird powered through at the Eccleston end.

Herron converted from the touchline to give Gateshead a 12-10 lead, and then added penalty goal when Vila Matautia fouled Craig Wilson, which found the Samoan placed on report by referee Stuart Cummings A surging break by Stewart proved the launching pad for Saints' fightback, and a Cunningham now ever ready to run from acting half-back burrowed his way over for Long to convert, and Sean then added a penalty when Thunder were penalised for holding down for the third time in succession.

Newlove then brought the house down with a 90-yard try after intercepting a wayward pass from Peters for Long to goal, and in now holding a 24-14 advantage with 20 minutes left, it appeared that Saints were set for consolidation of scoreline.

Gateshead thought differently, however, and roared back into contention when Bird intercepted a Martyn pass for Herron add the extra points, and Thunder's marksman made it five goals from as many attempts when Nickle fouled Danny Lee.

Saints then finally took command when Apollo Perelini crashed over after Davidson and Cunningham made the running, and rounded matters off in the grand manner when substitute Paul Wellens and Newlove combined to set up the last try by Long.

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